| Preparing for an Agent or Editor Appointment |
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| So you're going to a conference or workshop and have the option to meet with an editor or agent? Great! But what exactly are you supposed to do during one of these appointments? The first thing is to relax. Agents and editors are just people, too. There's no need to walk in there feeling inferior. You want her/him to remember you because your pitch for your book was so wonderful, not because you tripped over the chair and fell on her. So, where to start? Well, you should start by having your "pitch" ready. I hear you asking, "what's a pitch?" Simple: it's the short summary of your story. Ideally, it will be short, like a back cover blurb, and attention-grabbing--preferably with a "hook" or two in it. Since you're thinking back cover blurb, pick up whatever's in your TBR pile right now and flip it over to see the back cover blurb. Short, sweet and to the point, right? Plus it's probably got a "hook" somewhere in it, whether it's a secret baby, or an amnesiac heroine. I know, I know, summing up your book in five sentences isn't going to be easy, but I promise, it's worth it. And to help you out, here's a sample: "Sarah MacDonald doesn't want to return to her small hometown, but she doesn't have a choice--someone is after her child, and she'll do whatever she has to to protect her daughter. Sheriff Steven Bellamy is surprised to find his high school sweetheart has returned to Pleasant Valley, and shocked to discover she has a child with his eyes. It's his job to protect the woman he once loved from a dangerous man who'll go to any lengths to keep his secrets, but can he overcome his anger at her betrayal? Is it possible for this pair to find love again?" Okay, now you've got your pitch ready. What else is there? Well, a number of things, actually. Some appointments will be individual appointments, while others will be group appointments, and all are restricted to a certain time limit, whether ten minutes or only four. It's very important not to go over your allotted time. Not only is it rude (and you don't want to be remembered for that!), but it annoys the timekeepers--and other people in the appointment if it's a group session. Have some questions ready for the agent/editor--about the publisher, about the agency. What are they looking for, who are their fave authors. Be prepared to answer questions about your manuscript. By design, the pitch is supposed to be short and make them want to know more, so don't be surprised if they do have questions for you. Again, be succinct. Remember, agents and editors are human, too. Many of them are just as shy as some of the authors they'll be meeting, so don't be intimidated. They're just out looking for some books that might be right for them. Don't be disappointed if you don't get a request. It does happen, and could be because of one of several reasons, including: -the book isn't right for their line/agency--that's okay, you'll just find the right one elsewhere -your pitch didn't hook them--this can be fixed before your next appointment so that your story grabs the next agent/editor Good luck! |
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